OKYO Pharma Announces Chairman and Founder Acquires Shares
Rhea-AI Summary
OKYO Pharma (NASDAQ: OKYO) announced on Dec 15, 2025 that Panetta Partners Limited, an entity in which Executive Chairman Gabriele Cerrone has a beneficial interest, acquired 24,551 ordinary shares on NASDAQ.
After the purchase, the Chairman's total holding increased to 10,516,297 shares. OKYO is developing urcosimod to treat neuropathic corneal pain (NCP), an ocular condition currently without an FDA-approved therapy.
Positive
- Insider purchase of 24,551 shares on Dec 15, 2025
- Chairman stake totals 10,516,297 shares after the transaction
Negative
- None.
Market Reaction 15 min delay 1 Alert
Following this news, OKYO has gained 6.35%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. The stock is currently trading at $2.01. This price movement has added approximately $4M to the company's valuation.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus (15 min delayed). Upgrade to Silver for real-time data.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus 1 Down
Biotech peers show mixed moves, with names like XBIT at -4.38% and ATRA at +0.98%, indicating stock-specific factors rather than a uniform sector trend for OKYO.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 11 | Clinical data update | Positive | +6.9% | Phase 2 corneal nerve imaging data showed directionally favorable outcomes. |
| Dec 03 | Insider share purchase | Positive | -5.8% | Chairman-related entity acquired 27,051 shares, lifting holdings to 10.49M. |
| Nov 21 | Insider share purchase | Positive | +11.0% | Chairman-related entity bought 82,018 shares, increasing stake to 10.46M. |
| Nov 18 | Conference presentation | Neutral | -0.7% | CEO presentation at OIS XV highlighting urcosimod and Phase 2 results. |
| Oct 29 | Conference appearance | Neutral | +6.7% | BIO-Europe presentation on urcosimod Phase 2 data and development plans. |
Recent news has often led to aligned price reactions, but insider share acquisitions have produced both positive and negative next-day moves.
Over the past few months, OKYO has highlighted insider share purchases and advancing clinical work in neuropathic corneal pain (NCP). On Oct 29 and Nov 18, conference presentations and an OIS XV appearance focused on positive Phase 2 data and a planned 120-patient trial. Multiple insider buying updates on Oct 16, Nov 21, and Dec 3 increased the chairman’s stake above 10.46M shares. The latest announcement continues this accumulation theme against that clinical backdrop.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock is up +6.3% following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with repeated insider accumulation signals, including the latest purchase of 24,551 shares raising the chairman’s stake to 10,516,297. Past acquisition-tagged updates have shown mixed but often sizable moves, with reactions ranging from negative to gains above 10%. Investors may weigh the ongoing clinical milestones in neuropathic corneal pain against the history of volatile responses to insider buying.
Key Terms
neuropathic corneal pain medical
fda-approved therapy regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
LONDON and NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKYO Pharma Limited (NASDAQ: OKYO), an ophthalmology-focused bio-pharmaceutical company which is developing urcosimod to treat neuropathic corneal pain (NCP), an ocular condition associated with chronic and often severe nerve-related pain but without an FDA-approved therapy, today announces it has been informed that Panetta Partners Limited, an entity in which Gabriele Cerrone, the Executive Chairman, has a beneficial interest, has acquired 24,551 of the Company’s ordinary shares on NASDAQ, bringing his total holding to 10,516,297 shares.
About Urcosimod (Formerly called OK-101)
Urcosimod is a lipid conjugated chemerin peptide agonist of the ChemR23 G-protein coupled receptor which is typically found on immune cells of the eye responsible for the inflammatory response, as well as on neurons and glial cells in the dorsal root ganglion. Urcosimod was developed using a membrane-anchored-peptide technology to produce a novel long-acting drug candidate for treating ocular diseases. Urcosimod has been shown to produce anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing activities in mouse models of dry eye disease and corneal neuropathic pain, respectively, and is designed to combat washout through the inclusion of the lipid anchor built into the drug molecule to potentially enhance the efficacy of urcosimod within the ocular environment. Urcosimod showed clear statistical significance in multiple endpoints in a 240-patient completed Phase 2, multi-center, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial to treat dry eye disease, and just completed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked Phase 2 trial of urcosimod to treat neuropathic corneal pain.
About OKYO
OKYO Pharma Limited (NASDAQ: OKYO) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of neuropathic corneal pain and dry eye disease, with ordinary shares listed for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market. OKYO is focused on the discovery and development of novel molecules to treat neuropathic corneal pain and dry eye disease. A Phase 2 trial of urcosimod to treat neuropathic corneal pain patients was just completed by OKYO.
For further information, please visit www.okyopharma.com.
Inquiries:
| Business Development & Investor Relations | Paul Spencer | +44 (0)20 7495 2379 |
FAQ
How many OKYO (NASDAQ: OKYO) shares did the Chairman acquire on Dec 15, 2025?
What is Gabriele Cerrone's total holding in OKYO after the Dec 15, 2025 purchase?
Who made the OKYO share purchase reported on Dec 15, 2025?
Does the Dec 15, 2025 insider purchase change OKYO's development of urcosimod for NCP?
Where was OKYO's Dec 15, 2025 insider purchase disclosed?
